Stubborn Persistent Illusions

Released in 2017 after an eight-year hiatus, Stubborn Persistent Illusions represents a triumphant return for the Toronto-based collective. Recorded and produced by the band themselves, the album maintains their signature DIY aesthetic while achieving a level of sonic sophistication that rivals their mid-2000s peak. The record is structured around long-form compositions that blend the improvisational spirit of jazz with the structural ambition of progressive rock. Critics, particularly at AllMusic and Drowned in Sound, noted that the album avoids the 'apocalyptic' tropes of peers like Godspeed You! Black Emperor, instead favoring a 'pastoral' and 'restorative' tone. The inclusion of tracks like the 12-minute 'Bound and Boundless' showcases their ability to maintain tension through rhythmic complexity rather than sheer volume. It stands as a definitive late-career statement that reaffirmed their position as innovators within the instrumental rock canon.